The United States and Japan will step up their defence cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday.

Border Force raids yacht on Gold Coast

The Australian Border Force have detained the crew of a foreign yacht that has been raided on the Gold Coast Seaway.

Television cameras captured ABF officers, the dog squad and water police searching the racing yacht - reportedly sailing under the Croatian flag - after it moored at the Southport Yacht Club on Monday afternoon.

At least two men were reportedly taken into custody after the suspected drug raid.